Group communication device and method

• US 20060211411A1
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Rauhala, Jyri, Keinonen, Turkka, Korhonen, Panu, Backstrom, Raimo, Haaramo, Ville, Wikberg, Harri, Tahkokallio, Tatu, Fraki, Johanna
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,178 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method for voice based communication between a number of mobile terminals of a telecommunication network, the method comprising the steps of creating a group of said number of terminals and storing group information in each of the number of terminals, recording a voice message in one of the terminals of the group, dispatching the voice message to the terminals of the group from the one of the terminals, and receiving the voice message at least all other terminals of the group. The step of creating a group of terminals further comprises the steps of coupling together a number of mobile terminals, initiating a group creation command from at least one of the terminals, sending predetermined information from terminal to terminal to each terminal of the number of terminals for forming a group information, and transmitting the group information to all of the terminals thus forming a group of the terminals.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal configured to establish a group of mobile terminals, comprising:

means for coupling together the mobile terminal to other mobile terminals for establishing the group between the mobile terminal and the other mobile terminals by placing the mobile terminal and the other mobile terminals in close proximity to each other by at least one of physical contact, magnetic coupling, inductive coupling and capacitive coupling; and

means for initiating a group creation command from the mobile terminal by transmitting information including an identification of the mobile terminal and a reference to the group to a next terminal in a sequence of the other mobile terminals via at least one coupling comprising at least one of physical contact, magnetic coupling, inductive coupling and capacitive coupling.

2. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, comprising:

the mobile terminal being coupled together with the other mobile terminals by a direct communication distance; and

the mobile terminal and the other mobile terminals are detected to be in a group forming state before initiating the group creation command by the mobile terminal.

3. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal transmits said information to a communication server connected to a telecommunication network.

4. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal and the other mobile terminals are mobile radio terminals.

5. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 2, comprising upon detecting being in a group forming state:

means for transmitting idle character messages from said mobile terminal to a mobile terminal of the other mobile terminals in a sequence, creating a bi-directional data path between at least the mobile terminal and one of the other mobile terminals of the group; and

means for causing said mobile terminal to request a user to input a group creation mode, and upon receiving said input causing said mobile terminal to send identity data to at least one of the other mobile terminals within the bi-directional data path.

6. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 5, wherein a key on said mobile terminal is pressed to provide the group creation.

7. A mobile terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the key relates to the formed group.